verdict
VUR-dikt
/ˈvɜːrdɪkt/
A decision on a disputed issue in a civil or criminal case or an inquest.
Typically refers to the jury's finding of guilt or innocence, or liability in a civil case. It's the conclusion of the factual determination.
The story behind the word. The word 'verdict' comes from the Anglo-Norman French 'verdit,' which itself is a combination of Old French 'veir dit,' meaning 'truly said.' This breaks down further into 'veir' (from Latin 'verus,' meaning 'true') and 'dit' (from Latin 'dictum,' meaning 'something said'). So, a verdict is quite literally 'what is truly said' by the jury after considering the evidence.
Word relationships
- judgment: Judgment can be a broader term for a court's decision, often including the sentence, or a judge's ruling on a legal matter, whereas verdict is specifically the jury's finding of facts.
- ruling: A ruling is a decision made by a judge on a point of law or procedure during a trial, not the final decision on guilt or liability.
Commonly confused with
- sentence: A 'verdict' is the jury's decision on guilt or innocence. A 'sentence' is the punishment imposed by the judge after a guilty verdict.
Collocations
- guilty verdict
- not guilty verdict
- split verdict
- reach a verdict
- deliver a verdict
Example sentences
- "After three days of intense deliberation, the jury returned a unanimous verdict of not guilty." Describing the outcome of a jury's deliberation.
- "The judge accepted the jury's verdict, bringing the lengthy trial to a close." Referring to the type of decision made.
Memory hook
The 'VERDICT' is the 'VER'y 'DICT'ion (decision) of the jury. VERy DICTion
When not to use
Do not use 'verdict' for a judge's decision on a legal point during a trial; that's a 'ruling' or 'judgment'. 'Verdict' is usually for the final decision on the facts.
Fun facts
- In some jurisdictions, a jury's verdict must be unanimous, while in others, a majority is sufficient.
- A 'directed verdict' is a ruling by a judge that the jury must acquit the defendant because the prosecution has not presented enough evidence to support a conviction.
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